SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Puerto Rico’s governor says construction has started on a $54 million water treatment plant that will serve the U.S. territory’s central eastern region.

Alejandro Garcia Padilla says the plant will filter 7 million gallons (26.5 million liters) of water a day and begin operating in September 2016. He said Tuesday that the plant is expected to provide long-awaited potable water to 22,000 families.

Garcia says a second phase will see construction of a $300 million reservoir capable of storing more than 3 billion gallons (11 billion liters) of water. He says construction will start in May 2014 and the reservoir will allow the plant to treat up to 15 million gallons (57 million liters) of water a day.